Ascent of Microondas de Las Joyas on 2009-02-02

Ascent Trip Report

MICROONDAS DE LAS JOYAS is a radio/tv communication station, elev 360', built on the highest point and above the residential community of Colonia de Las Joyas, located East of Manzanillo. It is manned 24 hours a day and it offers superb different views to the North-East of the Bahia de Manzanillo and its Port. At the north side of the peak is La Cruz Las Joyas overlooking the community below.This peak can be accessed from two directions ( a road from the west and a trail from the east) thereby offering the hiker a loop trip. It an interesting and rewarding hike thru the small residential community. A hike to this summit attracts little or no attention and I doubt that it is of interest to the Gringo tourist. It is only for the more adventurous type, out for variety and looking for physical evidence of cultural differences.

WALKING/HIKING DIRECTIONS TO THE MICROONDAS LAS JOYAS. FROM THE NORTH/WEST SIDE(40-50 minute RT).Start your hike on the main boulevard going into Manzanillo, corner of Avenida Miguel de La Madrid and a small unnamed side street, about 250 meters East of the Police Station in Las Joyas. The Police Station, at the corner of Avenida Miguel de La Madrid and Avenida Lopez Mateos with a large sign "Instituto Municipal de Cultura de Manzanillo", is about 1 km East of the Port's main South-Entrance in San Pedrito.Walk South on the unnamed cobblestone street for 100 meters to a set of stairs. At the top of the stairs is a 4 way corner with the unfinished Templo La Sacrada Familia Las Joyas on the right. Left leads to the East side of the subdivision, a sharp right is an asphalted road "Avenida Lopez Mateos", leading down to the Police Station - an alternate hiking route but with car traffic.From this 4 way corner continue South to the ridge on the very steep concreted and signed road "Calle Juan de Barrera" - the road descends the other side. Turn left on a cobblestone road as it follows the ridge very steeply to the summit (1.1km from the TH). As usual when you walk the streets of Manzanillo....watch out for dog poop. Return the same way or from La Cruz continue to the east on the trail described here.FROM THE NORTH/EAST SIDE (1 hour RT).The TH for this route is at Calle Franscisco Villa and Avenida Miguel de La Madrid, 2 blocks (150M) east of the TH described above, a Kiosko store in on the corner. Walk (south) up the cobblestone Calle (turns left and steeply right) to a col (elev 60M) east of the summit (note - just before the left turn there is a road on the left (elev 30M) that leads to a wide stair case, this is the route to the ridge trail to Cerro Las Torres). About 20M before the col there is a concrete telephone pole on the right with the #200 white-painted on it. This is the start of the well-trodden trail that climbs/follows the ridge west to the summit. You'll pass a casita under construction, go over 3 bumps, drop down to a fence at a col and climb west to the summit (1.2km from the TH). Return the same way or continue west for a loop hike.